Loscoe drink-driver crashed into bollards and flattened railings

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Tuesday, January 19, how Barry Sparkes, 49, of Flamstead Avenue, Loscoe, Heanor, collided with bollards on Heanor Road, Smalley, and his Ford Mondeo became lodged on a central refuge.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Police said a car was seen swerving on Heanor Road and colliding with bollards as lots of people were leaving pubs.

“They saw the Ford Mondeo lodged on the central refuge with debris and flattened railings under the vehicle which had suffered extensive damage.

“Police said the defendant’s speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol.”

Following a drink-drive test, Sparkes recorded 74microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath which was just over twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Sparkes pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit after the incident on December 12, last year.

Defence solicitor David Gittins said: “He told police what had happened. He had been with friends and planned to get a taxi and couldn’t explain why he chose to drive home.

“He said he had seen a cat and swerved and hit the bollards.

“He accepts he was stupid and he has no one to blame but himself and as a result he has lost his job working as a driver and labourer.”

Magistrates fined Sparkes £120 and ordered him to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

He was also disqualified from driving for 22 months.